Aug 6 (AFP) - Southeast-Asian
human rights activists on Friday slammed Burma as a "millstone around Asean's
neck" and launched a campaign to block the military-run state from chairing
the regional grouping in
2006.
Burma, also called currently Myanmar, joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 1997 and is due to head the regional organisation two years from now succeeding Malaysia.
But longstanding concerns
over human rights, a lack of political reforms and the continued detention of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi have caused activists to pressure Asean leaders
to disqualify Yangon from
the leadership role.
"It is increasingly
obvious that the State Peace and Development Council which rules Burma has lied
and broken the promises it made to Asean about economic and political reforms,"
13 groups stated in a joint letter to
regional heads of government. "The
Burmese regime has become a millstone around Asean's neck by perpetuating direct
threats against regional security and jeopardising Asean's credibility and relations
with the international community."
The campaign was launched days ahead of the 37th anniversary of Asean, which was founded in Bangkok on August 8, 1967.
The activist groups, including
Forum Asia, Altsean Burma, and Burma Campaign UK, highlighted concern over Burma's
abuse of human rights including sexual violence, torture and recruitment of
child soldiers, the
mismanagement of the economy, and extensive drug production sanctioned by the
junta.
"We strongly doubt that all international leaders will be comfortable attending high-level Asean meetings hosted by the brutal regime," the letter stated.
A dispute has persisted this year over the participation of Burma in the biennial Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of heads of state or government, planned for Hanoi in October.
The European Union has insisted that Burma be excluded from the talks, but Asean has countered if Burma could not participate, neither could the EU's 10 new member nations that joined on May 1.
Diplomats have said the wrangling over the October 8-9 meeting would be high on the agenda during a trip to Hanoi next week by Burma Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt.